Custom Server Racks – We’ve Come a Long Way

Just over 100 years ago the telephone was the technology to have in homes and in business. Companies like AT&T had to quickly develop the supporting infrastructure to ensure the telephone’s successful expansion into our society.

Hence began the first foray into how communication centers were created. Fast forward to today, a lot has changed in communication technology. But the need for reliable, yet flexible hardware solutions remain as critical today as they ever were.

The Big Machine

Telephone infrastructure paved the way for the earliest data centers of the early 1970’s and the era of mainframe computers.

Mainframe computers were colossal machines, housed in entire rooms. Think of the scene from Hidden Figures, where NASA had to cut a section of a wall out to install a mainframe computer, the IBM 7090.

Unlike today's sleek and organized server racks, these early computing giants were standalone units with built-in storage and cooling systems.

With the introduction of microcomputers in the late 1970s, needs for server racks arose and the industry shifted to new options to support these powerful new adaptations.

These smaller yet more powerful systems paved the way for a significant transformation – the birth of the earliest versions of server racks. As businesses increasingly adopted microcomputers and their server counterparts, the necessity for more organized and efficient storage systems grew with it.

The Advent of the Modern Server Rack

The 1980s and 1990s witnessed a remarkable evolution as technology advanced, and servers became integral to businesses of all sizes. The dawn of the World Wide Web, with its dial-up sound was all the rage - and communication companies were pushed to expand the infrastructure further.

The design of server racks began to standardize during this period, with the 19-inch rack emerging as an industry standard. This standardization provided a uniform way to mount various electronic equipment modules, contributing to higher density and improved organization. The result was a more efficient ecosystem for data centers and IT environments.

GAW Technology Enters the Marketplace

Founded in 1990 as an authorized distributor for top companies in the industry, GAW Technology began building a reputation for quality and reliability.

The underlying need for flexibility and modularity in the data center became vastly apparent to Kathy Gaw-Betz, founder of GAW Technology. Already working as a supplier of equipment to the industry, GAW began to address the need of the evolving demands of the IT power load.

With a commitment to providing the best cabinet solution, GAW Technology came to understand that many of their customers were ordering standard, off-the-shelf products and removing doors, shelves and other parts they didn’t need. Why pay for and store parts you don’t need? With this came the evolution of their semi-custom solutions to save customers time and money.??

As technology and data exploded, the data center needs of their customers also began to change, especially those in the telecommunication, healthcare, and data center industries. So, in 19946 Gaw Technology developed new relationships and capabilities to help their customers design and economically manufacture a custom rack or cabinet that satisfied the most stringent and unique requirements.

Adapting to the Heat: Cooling Evolution

The 2000s brought forth more powerful servers that, in turn, generated increased heat. Traditional passive cooling methods, which relied on natural cooling within a ventilated room, were no longer sufficient. This marked the inception of advanced cooling systems integrated into server racks.

In-row cooling units and other rack-based cooling solutions were introduced to provide targeted cooling to servers, preventing overheating. Additionally, hot and cold aisle containment strategies were developed to optimize airflow, ensuring servers received cool air while efficiently expelling hot air.

The Modular and Scalable Revolution

The past decade has witnessed a shift towards modularity and scalability in data centers. As businesses sought rapid expansion of their IT infrastructure without building entirely new data centers, server rack designs evolved to be more modular. This adaptability allows companies to add more capacity as needed - without a complete overhaul of existing setups.

High-density racks have become prevalent, capable of accommodating the increasing power and performance demands of modern servers. These racks maximize the utilization of space, ensuring that businesses can extract the most value from their IT investments.

Tailored Design for Precision and Functionality

One of the significant advancements in the realm of server racks is the move towards tailored solutions that precisely meet the unique needs of organizations. GAW Technology, through its Advantage Program, exemplifies this trend by offering free design consultations for members interested in custom server rack solutions.

Choosing a custom server rack cabinet brings a unique advantage – the ability to tailor the design according to the organization's precise needs. GAW Technology's customization options include pre-installed components and custom colors. This results in more than just a piece of equipment - it becomes a solution perfectly aligned with operational requirements.

Maximizing Space and Potential

GAW Technology's commitment to space optimization goes beyond a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it represents a tailored approach to address the unique spatial challenges of diverse data centers. Custom cabinets from GAW are crafted with precision to ensure every inch of available space is efficiently utilized.

The design process at GAW takes into account specific layout requirements, whether it's for a compact server room with limited space or a sprawling data center with diverse infrastructure needs. This meticulous attention to detail guarantees that each custom cabinet seamlessly integrates into the environment, contributing to a harmonious and space-efficient data center layout.

The journey of server racks has been marked by continuous innovation, responding to the changing landscape of technology and business needs. From the massive mainframes of the past to the precision-tailored solutions of today, server racks have evolved into a critical component in optimizing IT infrastructure and ensuring the seamless operation of businesses worldwide.

GAW Leads the Way in Customized Cabinets

GAW Technology has not only kept pace with this innovation but leads the way in customized cabinets. Our dedication to space optimization is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a tailored approach to meet the unique spatial challenges of your data center.

Custom cabinets from GAW are crafted with precision, ensuring that every inch of available space is utilized efficiently.